Foot-washing slipper



Oct. 18,1927. 1,345,688 J. M. BURNAP FOOT-WASHING SLIPPER Filed Now 15, 1926 Patented Oct. 18, 1927.

mun srA'rss JAMES M. runner, on cnrcsso, rumors,

BOW-WASHING SLIYIER.

. Application filed November 15 1926. SerialNa. 1148,551

This invention relates to improvements in foot washing shppers.

The main object of the invention is to pros vide a device in the nature of a fabric slipper, which is adapted to: be removably secured to the inclined end of either a foot tub; or a regular bath tub, the slipper being adapted to: receive and, engage the foot with a yielding pressure, so that When the foot is moved back and forth therein, every partoil the foot will; be. subjected to a scouring action, and thereby thoroughly cleansed..

(Further, to provide a slipper comprising a suitable fabric body or jacket and a series of spaced resilient foot surrounding ribs which. are removabl-y' secured to, the jacket, and which are: of varying shapes in, cross section, toagi ve a slipperdike form to the jacket, thesaid jacket being open at the toe end: and along the top: thereof to permit the insertion of, the; footin the washing process, the: slipper being somewhat lionger than the foot to permit a back and forth scouring movement of the toot'thereinh These: objects are accomplished by vice illustrated in the ings, inwhich ::v V t Figure: 1v is a side View of one form of the improved foot washingslipper, showing the manner of its connection to the inclined end of afoottub'. a. Y q Fig. 2: is an' enlarged sidev view of the slipper shown-iniFigure t 1 Fig. 3 is; a plan view of an open; heel end; a i

Fig; 4a is a transverse sectional view through the slipper; and

Fig. 5 is a side view of apportion of a slipper showingv a heel portion in hinged. engagement with the: body" portion of the slaippen.

Referring to the accompanying drawings; The numeral 1 indicatesa foottu-b having one end 2 thereof inclined at an angle of approximately forty-five degrees,. and to this inclined end is removably secured the improved'foot washing slipper A, While I have shown a, foot tub, the invention also contemplates the use of a full sized bath tub, in which case. two of the: improved slippers may be used to permit the washing of both f'eet at one time The improved slipper", in its preferred form comprises a foot encasing member which is made of suitable heavy 'fiabrieimmterial,.wlhich is of a size and the a asslippers having accompanying drawshape toahe folded around and partlyover the top of the. foot, leaving a relatively wide opening at the toe end and a much narrowed opening along the top which extends back to the, heel, where the opposite sides of the fabric are shaped to fold around thehecl. The fabric or jacket, as it will. hereafter be termed, is made to conform somewhat tothe shape of the foot, and is retained in such shapeby a, series of spaced resilient ribs 3', which extend under and around the jacket and to within a slight distance of the edges thereof which-define the opening in the slip-per; The ribs 3 are of varying sizes and shapes to conform to varying thicknesses of the foot from the toes back to the ankle: These ribs are of steel or other resilientmetal and are bent to form base. portions, which support the sole ofthe jacket and which-are arched, as shown in- Figure i, and side members which arebent to conform somewhat to the cross sectional outline of the foot.- The; ribs are placed around the jacket at suitable intervals from the toe end I to within a short distance of the heel, and

are secured to the j;acket, preferabl-y by split pinsrlO, which are passed through the pad and through holes in the said ribs, the ends of the pins being spread in the usual man:- ner to: holdv them in'place. This arrange-i ment permits quicls and easy removal; of the'ribs, to permit washing. of the jacket, or the, attachment of the ribs to a new jacket; In practice, the heetmay be'closed,

as shown in Figures I and. 2, or open, as

shown imtFigure Theda closed heel jacketris used, it is properly cut to fold. around: the heel and the folded-heel portion is inclosed or surrounded by a thin metal form 4!, which is pressed or stamped to conformtothe contour of the heel, and the torm is: secured to the heel portion of the pad: by

split. pins, asin the case of the ribs.

The slipper is enough longer than the foot to permit a back and fort-11 scouring; move.- ment'of the foot. therein, and is of a height to extend to: the anklejoint. To the arch portion of the rearmost ribs is secured one end of a hook rod 5 which eXtends-backbe- I neath the heel of the jacket, its free end being-bent to form an eye, and a similar hook rod. 7 is secured to the arched portion of the rib nearest the toe" of the jtaeket.

The'incliined end of the tub is: provided near: its lowennpoirtion: with a hookjtryover which is passed the eyed end of the hook rod 5, and one end of a coil spring 8 is secured to the hook rod 7, and the other end of the spring terminates in a hook 9, which engages the rolled upper edge of the inclined end of the tub, the coil spring being under tension when thus hooked, so as to hold the slipper in proper footwashing position.

lVhen the open heel pad is used, the ribs 3 extend back to within a slight distance of the heel end of the jacket, and the heel form 4 is omitted. I may also employ a slipper having a hinged heel portion, as shown in Figure 5, and in thiscase, a heel form 4 is employed, and has a hinge connection on one side with the rearmost rib on the pad. As shown the hinges are in the form of short links 3*, which enter holes in the said rib and heel form, and a piece of fabric is secured in the heel form, as shown. By this arrangement the slipper can be used with the heel end either open or closed, and the heel form can be held in closed position by one foot while the other foot is being washed. The sole portion of the jacket is provided with a plurality of holes 11, and by pressing forcibly upon the said sole portions, the arched portions of the ribs are flattened, and with each flattening action of the ribs, water forced through the holes in the sole portion and against the foot, thus assisting the foot washing process,

In practical use, the slipper is secured in the tub in the manner previously described, and the tub is filled to any desired depth with water, and soap or other cleansing agent applied to the inside surface of the jacket. A foot is then inserted in the slipper by first inserting the heel in the toe end thereof, and sliding the foot down until it is entirely inclosed by the jacket, which will be held in contact with all parts of the foot by the spring pressure of the ribs. The foot is then moved back and forth in the slipper, and at the time turned from side to side, so that all parts will be subjected to a scouring action and thereby thoroughly cleansed. A single slipper is used in connection with a foot tub, but with a larger tub, two slippers may be used desired.

The above described device is particul rly useful in cases, where, from physical. ability or other causes, the foot washing process is attended with great inconvenience. 7

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is: i

1. A foot washing slipper, comprising a fabric jacket shaped to partially inclose the foot, and a series of spaced resilient ribs which are secured to the jacket and cause it to conform to the contour of the foot.

2. A foot washing slipper, comprising a fabric jacket which is open alon the top, a

series of spaced. resilient ribs secured about the jacket and shaped to conform. to the cross sectional outline of the foot.

3. A foot washing slipper, comprising a fabric jacket which is open along the top, said opening being increased in width at the toe end of the slipper, and a series of spaced resilient ribs removably secured upon said jacket, and which extend under and around the same and terminate near the edges thereof, said ribs being shaped to conform to the cross sectional outline of the foot, and means for attaching the opposite ends of the slipper to an object.

i. A foot washing slipper, comprising a heavy fabric jacket which is open along the top, and provided with a plurality of holes in the bottom portion thereof, and a series of spaced resilient ribs removably secured upon said jacket and which extend under and around the same and terminate near the edges thereof, said ribs being shaped to conform to the cross sectional outline of the foot, the bottom portions of the ribs being arched- :3. The combination with a tub having an inclined end; of a foot washing slipper comprising a fabric jacket and a series of spaced resilient ribs thereon which cause the jacket to conform to the cross sectional outline of the foot, and means for securing the opposite ends of said slipper to the inciined end of the tub.

6. The combination with a tub having an inclined end; of a foot washing slipper corrprising a fabric jacket, open along the top and a seriesof spaced resilient ribs the on which are shaped to conform the jacket to the contour of the foot, hooks connected to the i at the opposite ends'of the slipper, means in the lower portion of the inclined end of the tub for engaging the hook on the heel end of the slipper, and a coil spring, one end of which isconnected to the hook at the toe end of the slipper, the otherend of said coil spring terminating in a hook which engages the upper edge of said inclined end, said spring being under tension.

7. A foot washing slipper comprising a fabric jacket open along the top and closed at the heel end thereof, a thin metal heel form; around the heel end of the jacket, spaced resilient ribs extending under and around the jacket and terminating near the top edges thereof, said ribs being shaped to conform the jacket to the contour of the foot, holes in said ribs, and split pins which extend through said jacket and through the holes in the ribs.

8. A foot washing slipper, according to claim 7, in which the metal heel form is hinged on one side, to the adjacent rib.

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature. i i

JAMES M. BURNAP. 

